The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that its annual deer season forecast (2014 Deer Hunting Prospects) is now available online. DNR deer program biologists predict that hunters this season will see similar success rates as in 2013. The forecast is designed to give hunters a better idea of what to expect in the woods this season and includes:

Regional information breakdowns for the Upper Peninsula, the northern Lower Peninsula and the southern Lower Peninsula.

An overview of important changes for this license year, including information on multiple-year deer regulations, the new hunting and fishing license options, deer management unit boundaries for southern Michigan, and more.

Updates on wildlife health and diseases.

To acces the forecast, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr then click on hunting & trapping, then click on big game. Scroll down the page to the white-tailed deer section and click on 2014 deer season forecast.

For more tips and information on having a safe, successful deer season (including location of deer-check stations, antler point restriction FAQs and hunting digests), visit the DNR website www.michigan.gov/deer.

The Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials remind hunters that the DNR would like to check as many deer as possible during all the deer seasons to continue gathering critical data of Michigan’s deer herd. The data is important for monitoring the herd’s health and determining population size.
During all deer seasons, deer can be checked at DNR Operation Service Centers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday (except state holidays). Other check stations are only open on specific days. For more details, see the list of deer check stations for 2011 on the DNR website at Michigan.gov/dnr. Click on “hunting and trapping” and then “deer check stations.”
The last day to check your deer will be Jan. 6, 2012. The DNR will test any deer that is identified as “suspect” for chronic wasting disease (CWD) and bovine tuberculosis (TB). The DNR will also collect samples of deer from areas where disease concerns have been identified, which include the five counties in the Northeastern Lower Peninsula within the TB area, as well as Iosco, Shiawassee, Cheboygan, and Emmet counties.